Press Releases

April 07, 2021

Durbin Meets With Illinois Members Of The American Library Association

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Illinois members of the American Library Association to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of federal funding to libraries. "Libraries provide important services to Illinois communities, families, and children," Durbin said. "Beyond books and local programming, libraries may also be one of the only local opportunities for people to connect with broadband internet service. During today's call, I … Continue Reading


April 01, 2021

Durbin, Duckworth Push for Site of Emmett Till's Memorial Service to be Designated as Part of National Park System

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today requested the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a reconnaissance survey of the Roberts Temple Church of God In Christ, located at 4021 South State Street, in the Bronzeville area of Chicago, Illinois, for consideration as a new unit of the National Park System. Roberts Temple is the site of the memorial service for fourteen year-old Emmett Till, who was abducted, tortured, and lynched … Continue Reading


April 01, 2021

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $270 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Community Health Centers for COVID-19 Response in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that 45 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout Illinois will receive a total of $270 million in federal funding to support COVID-19 vaccination and health services for vulnerable populations in urban and rural parts of the state. The funding, which was appropriated through the American Rescue Plan, will be awarded beginning in April by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). … Continue Reading


March 30, 2021

Durbin, Colleagues Call for Transformative Investment in Affordable Housing in Build Back Better Infrastructure Package

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) in urging the Biden Administration to include major investments in affordable housing in the upcoming infrastructure package. In their letter to President Biden, the members noted that without affordable housing investments, there is no path for an equitable recovery and long term financial stability for low and middle income American families. … Continue Reading


March 30, 2021

Durbin Statement on First Slate of White House Judicial Nominations

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House announced its first slate of judicial nominations: Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals; Tiffany P. Cunningham, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals; Regina Marie Rodriguez, District of Colorado; Judge Florence Y. Pan, District Court for the District of … Continue Reading


March 29, 2021

Durbin Discusses State and Local Funding in American Rescue Plan with Illinois Mayors

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today with members of the Illinois Municipal League's Executive Committee and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus's Executive Board to discuss the state and local funding included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The legislation includes $13.7 billion in state and local funding for Illinois. "Many government entities throughout Illinois faced major budget cuts due to the financial impact of the pandemic," Durbin said. "The American Rescue Plan … Continue Reading


March 29, 2021

Durbin Discusses Mail Delays With USPS Great Lakes and Central Region Leadership

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today with leaders from the United States Postal Service's (USPS) Great Lakes and Central Region to discuss changes by the Postal Service that have resulted in significant mail delays. Last month, USPS Great Lakes put out a call to mail carriers in five surrounding states asking for letter carriers to come to Illinois to help deliver a huge backlog of undelivered packages and envelopes. They also asked mail carriers in the five … Continue Reading


March 29, 2021

Durbin, Davis Introduce Bill To Make Broadband And Computer Technology More Affordable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07) today announced introduction of their Computer and Internet Access Equity Act. The bill would connect American families and students to the internet by making broadband and computer technology more affordable. "Broadband and computer technology are necessities in America today, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for too many, these services are a luxury," Durbin said. "My … Continue Reading


March 26, 2021

Durbin, Cornyn, Leahy, Young, Coon, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage of Doctors, Nurses

WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide a temporary stopgap to quickly address our nation's shortage of doctors and nurses. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture 25,000 unused immigrant visas for nurses and 15,000 unused immigrant visas … Continue Reading


March 26, 2021

Durbin, Grassley: Bipartisan Legislation to Extend CARES Act Bankruptcy Relief Provisions Heads to President

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded final passage of the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act, bipartisan legislation they introduced to temporarily extend COVID-19 bankruptcy relief provisions enacted as part of the March 2020 CARES Act. The bill now heads to President Biden for signature. "Extending these temporary … Continue Reading


March 26, 2021

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Advance the First Step Act's Goals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the lead sponsors of the landmark First Step Act (FSA), introduced the bipartisan First Step Implementation Act, legislation that aims to further implement the FSA and advance its goals. The First Step Act is bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation designed to make our justice system fairer and our … Continue Reading


March 26, 2021

Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Comprehensive Plan to Address Plastic Pollution Crisis

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47) to introduce the bicameral Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act-the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the plastic pollution crisis that is poisoning our air, water, and land, and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income Americans. "For years, large corporations have shifted the burden of … Continue Reading


March 26, 2021

Durbin, Lee Introduce Smarter Sentencing Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would modernize federal drug sentencing polices by lowering certain mandatory drug sentences. The Smarter Sentencing Act gives federal judges the authority to conduct individualized reviews to determine the appropriate sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses. "Mandatory … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin, Senate Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Legal Cannabis Businesses Access to Critical Financial Services

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would provide legal cannabis businesses access to critical banking services. Most state legal medicinal or recreational cannabis businesses are denied access to the banking system because banks fear they may be prosecuted under federal law given the … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Extension of Paycheck Protection Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act of 2021, which extends the PPP through June 30, 2021. The bill now heads to the President's desk for signature: "The extension of the PPP will keep Illinoisans employed and allow small businesses to survive. We must do everything we can to support this economy as we recover from the devastation caused by this … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin, Boozman, Inhofe, Booker, Cardin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase U.S. Exports to Africa

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), James Inhofe (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve America's competiveness throughout the African continent by forcing better coordination between U.S. government agencies and departments, establishing comprehensive strategic goals, countering anticompetitive measures by China, and marshaling private investments to improve U.S. exports … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Judiciary Committee Advances Monaco and Gupta Nominations

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Lisa Monaco to be U.S. Deputy Attorney General by a unanimous voice vote and the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be U.S. Associate Attorney General by a vote of 11-11. Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Ms. Gupta's nomination to place her on the executive calendar. Ahead of the votes, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5.5 Million for Illinois Veterans' Homes to protect Against COVID-19 And Other Infectious Diseases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $5.5 million in federal grant funding to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) for upgrades to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. This funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and appropriated by Congress though the CARES Act. The funds will reimburse the state for upgrades and improvements to air purification, ventilation, and other … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $71 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding for Illinois COVID-19 Response

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois has been awarded a total of $71.9 million in federal grant funding to offset costs related to COVID-19 testing and response. The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers the costs of the collection of COVID-19 tests, equipment rentals, and supplies procured by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) from January 20, 2020 through August 31, … Continue Reading


March 25, 2021

Durbin Reintroduces Legislation to Combat Rising Domestic Terrorism Threat

WASHINGTON-Following the continued rise in horrific incidents of domestic terrorism and hate crimes targeting religious and ethnic minorities and communities of color, as well as the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced legislation to address the growing domestic terrorism threat. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021 would enhance the federal government's efforts to … Continue Reading

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